Pant stretcher and creaser



March 23, 1965 c. J. CAMPBELL PANT STRETCHER AND CREASER l 3Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 20, 1965 INVENTOR.

Charles J. Campbell AGENT C. J. CAMPBELL PANT STRETCHER AND CREASERMarch 23, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 20, 1963 II-Inn "mall/fill;

INVENTOR Charles J. Campbell rawxxxxxx 7!!!!14 AGENT March 23, 1965 c.J. CAMPBELL PANT STRETCHER AND CREASER 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 20,1965 MP 11m 58 INVENTOR Charles J. Campbell AGENI United States Patent3,174,663 PANT STRETCHER AND CREASER Charles J. Campbell, 132 RosedaleHeights Drive, Toronto 7, @ntario, Canada Filed May 20, 1963, Ser. No.281,626 4 Claims. (Cl. 223-74) This invention relates to a device fordrying, shaping, creasing and smoothing trousers, slacks, shorts, andthe like garments. More particularly, it is concerned with providing amechanically simple, lightweight and portable creaser device of the typethat is inserted inside the leg of the trousers and forms a crease bymeans of pressure applied along the length of the leg by oppositelypositioned creasing members.

Most known devices of this nature are generally constructed of a largenumber of component parts with the result that they are unnecessarilyheavy, cumbersome, and awkward to use and store. Also, they arecomplicated and expensive to manufacture.

Other known devices of relatively simple construction are generallyunsatisfactory because they are limited to use with a very narrow rangeof garment sizes and, in addition, like the more complex devices, theyare awkward to use.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a garmentcreasing device constructed from a minimum number of component partswhich is light in weight and which can be easily inserted into andremoved from the garment. Another object of this invention is to providea creaser which is automatically self-adjusting for trousers of any legwidth and which maintains uniform, continuous pressure along the lengthof the creases. A further object of this invention is the provision of amechanically simple trouser creaser which readily collapses and locksinto a relatively narrow width to facilitate storage or insertion intoeven the narrowest trouser cuffs and legs.

The above and other objects of this invention are accomplished by meansof a surprisingly simple mechanical device which comprises a pair ofstraight-edged creasing structures which are held in spaced apartrelationship by suitable support means mounted between the twostructures such that they are positioned for convenient simultaneousinsertion into a pair of trouser legs or the like. Each creasingstructure comprises two relatively thin, straight-edged crease-formingarms which are held in substantially co-planar, spaced-apartrelationship by spreading means mounted between the two creasing arms atsingle pivot points located about midway the length of each arm. Thespreading means is spring actuated and is arranged and constructed so asto exert a lateral outward pressure on each creasing arm when the deviceis in the operative position and is provided with means adapted to lockthe creasing arms together when the device is in the non-operativeposition, such that the width of the creasing structure in thenonoperative or collapsed position is relatively narrow as compared toits operative or expanded width. Thus, the creasing structure, whenreleased from the contracted or non-operative position, expandsinstantly under the force of tensioned spring means to automaticallyadjust to the varying widths and shapes of the garment into which it hasbeen inserted. Because of single pivot point mounting of the spreadingmeans between the creasing arms, continuous uniform pressure isautomatically maintained along the length of the creasing arms, whichare free to expand or contract automatically responsive to the shrinkageor stretching of materials as they may be aitected by moisture, steam orheat. Sharp, straight creases are assured by the straight, sharp-edgedconfiguration of the outer edges of the creasing arms.

The invention is described in detail hereinafter with reference to thefollowing drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation view of one embodiment of this inventionshowing the creasing device in its collapsed or non-operative position;

FEGURE 2 is a side elevation view of the embodi merit of FIGURE 1showing the creasing device in its expanded or operative positioninserted in a trouser leg;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view, in detail, takenalong the line 3-3 inFIGURE 1 showing construction and configuration of the crease-formingarms;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 44 in FIGURE 1 showingthe creaser support means of that embodiment;

FIGURE 5 is a side elevation of another embodiment of the creasershowing locking means, partly in section for 7 holding the device in itscollapsed position;

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view taken along the line 66 in FIGURE 5 showingthe action of the locking means of that embodiment;

FIGURE 7 is a side elevation view of a creaser mounted on a floor-typesupport stand showing another embodiment of the creaser lockingmechanism;

FIGURE 8 is an end elevation of the embodiment shown in FIGURE 7-showingthe attachment of a creaser to a floor-type support;

FIGURE 9 is a sectional view along the line 9-9 in FIGURE 8 showing, indetail, the locking mechanism of the creaser illustrated in FIGURES 7and 8; and

FIGURE 10 is a sectional View along the line 10-10 in FIGURE 8 showingthe locking mechanism of FIG- URES 7, 8 and 9 in the unlocked position.

Like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the descriptionof the drawing.

The device illustrated comprises a pair of corresponding creasingstructures indicated generally by the numeral 10,

.which are held in spaced, substantially parallel relationship bysupport means indicated generally by the numeral 11. Each creasingstructure 10 consists of two straightedged crease-forming arms 12 whichare held in substantially coplanar, spaced apart relationhsip by meansof spreading means. The creasing arms 12 are each substantially tubularin cross-section (as shown particularly in FIGURE 3) and have relativelysharp outer edges 13 which accommodate the crease in the trousers whenthe device is positioned within the trouser leg T as shown in FIGURE 2.The inner tubular portion of the creasing arms 12 preferably issufiiciently thick to ensure the presence of an air space inside thegarment leg which will facilitate drying. 1

The spreading means, which hold the creasing arms 12 in spaced-apartrelationship, each comprises a pair of spreader bars 14 having theircorresponding outer extremities pivotally attached to the creasing arms12 by transverse rivets or pins 15. The inner adjacent extremities ofthe spreader bars 14 are pivotally connected to a first pivot plate 16by means of transverse rivets or pins 17. A pair of links 18 arepivotally connected at their outer extremities to each of the spreaderbars 14 by means of transverse pins or rivets 19; The adjacentextremities of the links 18 are pivotally associated with a second pivotplate 20 by means of. transverse rivets or pins 21. A support rod 22 isrigidly fixed to the first pivot plate 16 and projects through thesecond pivot plate 20 such that sliding movement of the plate 20longitudinally along the support rod 22 is permitted. A coil spring 23is positioned on the support rod 22 between the first and second pivotplates 16 and 29 respectively and has one end secured to each of saidplates such that it is under constant tension. The coil spring 23 thusnormally functions to force the spreader bars 14 apart because of the 3contractive force exerted on the pivot plates 16 and 20.

Since the creasing structures of this invention will be commonly used inpairs in order to effect simultaneous creasing or stretching of each ofthe legs of a pair of trousers or the like garment, support means 11 or63 are provided for holding two creasing structures in spacedapartrelationship for convenient insertion into the gar ment that is to becreased. FIGURE 4 illustrates one such support means as contemplated bythe present invention. In this embodiment, the support rod 22 of eachcreasing structure projects upwards and is fixed in an inverted supporthousing which secures each of the creasing members 10 in spaced-apartrelationship for convenient simultaneous insertion into a pair oftrouser legs or the like garment. Pivotally associated with the supporthousing 30 is a support hook 31 which is attached at the mid-point 32 ofthe top portion 33 of the support housing 30. In the embodiment shown,the hook 31 is held by a collar 34 on the lower extremity 35 of the hook31. The

hook 31 illustrated comprises an a-rcuate outer portion 36 and anarcuate inner portion 37 formed integral therewith defining an arcuateslot 38 'therebetween. This design permits either simply hanging thecreaser device on a rod 66 as shown in FIGURE 1, or locking the hook onthe support line 65 as shown in FIGURE 2.

Alternative to the suspending hook means for supporting the creasingdevice described hereinabove and illustrated in FIGURES 1-6, the presentinvention contemplates a floor-type support 63 such as illustrated inFIG- URES 7 and 8. In this embodiment, the creasing structures 10 areheld vertically in spaced-apart relationship by a pair of extensions 60,61 securely fixed to the first pivot plate 16 of each creasing structuresuch as by means "of transverse pins 62. The extensions 60, 61 form partof the support 63 which can be held in the vertical position by means ofa base 64 which is sufliciently stable to prevent upsetting of thecreasing device.

The present invention provides means for holding and locking thecreasing arms 12 in a collapsed or non operative position for easierinsertion into the trouser leg or cuff.

In' the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG- URES l and 2,the tensional force of spring 23is utilized to lock the creasing arms 12in the locked or nonoperative position, as shown in FIGURE 1. This isaccomplished by locating pivot points 19 on spreader bars 14 such thatwhen the spreading means are in their collapsed or non-operativeposition, said points are inside the null-point defined by an imaginarystraight line drawn between pivot points 17 and 21. With thisarrangement the tension spring 23 will act to pull the creaser arms 12together and lock them in the collapsed position once they have beenforced past the null-point by manual inward pressure. Thus, the devicecan be automatically locked in the collapsed position as shown in FIGURE1 simply by exerting sufiicient inward pressure on the creaser arms 12to force pivot points 19 inside the nullpoint; and the device can beunlocked and returned to the expanded or operative position by manuallyforcing the 'crease'r arms 12 outward until pivot points 19 are outsidethe hull-point. V

The present invention also providesa positive acting locking means whichcan be utilized alternatively to the spring-actuated locking actiondescribed hereinabove. Two embodiments of the positive locking means areillustrated in FIGURES 5 through 10. Referring first to the embodimentillustrated by FIGURES 5 and. 6, this positive locking means comprises apair of dogs 40 and 41 pivotally mounted on the side walls 42 of supportmeans 43 by means of transverse pins 44. The dogs 40 and 41 are biasedoutwardly by spring means '45, which are mounted on 'a transverse pin 46to engage the lip of notches 47 and 48 which are formed on extensions 491of the tubes fixed to pivot plates 20 and adapted for free slidingmovement along the support rods 22. It will be evident that dogs 40, 41will engage the lip of notches 47, 48 to hold the creasing members 10 intheir collapsed or inoperative position, and when the dogs 40, 41 arereleased by inward pressure on the lugs 40a, 41a the creasing members 12will expand, the tube extensions 49 and notch 48 moving to the expandedor operative position 49a, 48a as illustrated in FIGURE 6.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGURES 7 through 10, a separatepositive locking means is provided for each creasing structure 10.In'each case, this locking means comprises a pair of dogs 50, 51 whichare pivotally mounted on support rod 22 by means of a transverse pin 53.The lower portion of dogs 50, 51 are biased inwardly by spring means 54wrapped around support rod 22, as illustrated, such that the dogs 50, 51engage lip 56 of notch 57 formed on tubular extension 58 which is fixedto'the second pivot'plate 20 in the same manner as extension 49previously described. Thus, when the creasing structure 10 is in thecontracted position, the dogs 50, 51 engage the lip. 56, as shown inFIGURE 9, locking the creasing structure in the contracted position.When the dogs 50, 51 are released by manual inward pressure applied attheir upper portions, tubular extension 58 is released and the creasingstructure 10 expands to its operative position as shown in FIGURE 10under the force of tensioned spring 23.

In the operation of the creasing device of this invention, the creaser,in the collapsed or non-opeartive position as shown in FIGURE 1, issuspended from a line or rod by hook 31, fixed to support means 11 oralternatively, it is vertically supported. by floor stand 64 fixed tosupport means 63 such as illustrated in FIGURES 7 and 8. When thehook-suspended embodiment is used, it is preferred to lock the hook 31on the supporting line 65 as shown in FIGURE 2. Creasing structures 10are then inserted in each cult or trouser leg and the garment properlypositioned thereon. The locking means are released and the creasing arms12 expand to exert a continuous, uniform pressure along the length ofthe trouser leg. Final adjustments to ensure stra-i'ghtness of thecrease etc., are then made. The pivotal action of suspending hook 31facilitates this operation. On completion of the creasing operation,e.-g., when a wash and wear article is dry, the creaser is locked in thecollapsed position and the garment removed.

The creasing device of this invention has -a number of importantadvantages. It is light in Weight and easy to use or store; it consistsof a minimum number of component parts and is thus inexpensive tomanufacture; the outward and inward movement of the creasing arms ispositively co-ordinated and controlled allowing the device to be usedwith a wide variety of garments ensuring straight, sharp creases in allcases.

It will be understood, of course, that modification-s can be made in thepreferred embodiments of the invention de scribed and i'llustratedherein without departing from the scope and purview of the invention asdefined by the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent of theUnited States is:

1. A device for stretching and creasing trousers and the like garmentscomprising at least one creasing structure having an elongated supportmember, a pair of oppositely positioned opposed creasing arms carried bysaid support member, a first pivot plate fixed to one extremity of saidsupport member, two spreader bars each having one end pivotallyconnected to said first pivot plate and having their opposite outerend-s each pivotally connected to one of said creasing "arms, a secondpivot plate slid-ably positioned on said "support member, a pair oflinks each having one end pivotally connected to said second pivot plateand having their opposite outer'ends each pivotally attached at aboutthe mid-point of said spreader bars, tensioned spring means arrangedbetween and'c'onnected with said first and second pivot plates such thatsaid spring means tends to pull said first and second pivot platestogether whereby said spreader bars are forced laterally outward andlocking means for securing said creasing arms in a contracted position.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 in which the locking means comprises aparticular positioning of the pivot points connecting the various partssuch that when the creasing arms are in a contracted position the pivotpoints connecting the spreader bars with the iinks are inside thenull-point which is defined by imaginary lines drawn through the pivotpoints connecting the ends of the spreader arms and the ends of thelinks to the first and second pivot plates respectively whereby theforce of the tensioning spring means will act to hold said creasing armsin said contracted position.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 in which the locking means comprisesholding dogs positioned on the support member above the second pivotplate, an extension fixed to said second pivot plate and adapted foraxial sliding movement along said support member, said extension beingprovided with catch means adapted for releasable engagement with saidholding dogs when said extension is in its most extended position suchthat said creasing structure can he releasably locked in a contractedposition by the action of said holding dogs on said catch means.

4. A device for stretching and creasing trousers and the like garmentscomprising a pair of creasing structures secured to support means insubstantially parallel spacedapart relationship; each of said creasingstructures comprising an elongated support rod affixed at one extremityto said support means, a first pivot plate fixed to the other extremityof said support rod, a pair of oppositely positioned opposedstraight-edged creasing arms carried by said support rod, two spreaderbars each having one end pivotally attached to said first pivot plateand having their opposite outer ends each pivot-ally attached to one ofsaid creasing arms; a second pivot plate slidably positioned on saidsupport rod between said first pivot plate and said suppont means, apair of links each having one end pivotally attached to said secondpivot plate and having their opposite outer ends pivotally attached toabout the midpoint of said spreader bars, tensioned spring meanscircumscribing said support rod between said first and second pivotplates and connected therewith such that said spring means tends to pullsaid first and second pivot plates together and thereby force saidspreader iba-rs laterally outwand; means for securing said creasingstructures in a contracted position and means for supporting said pairof creasing structures in a substantially vertical position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,236,167 8/17Hansen 22363 2,943,773 7/60 Bahnik 22374 X 2,956,714 10/ Rosenthal et a122374 FOREIGN PATENTS 949,041 9/56 Germany.

JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner.

1. A DEVICE FOR STRETCHING AND CREASING TROUSERS AND THE LIKE GARMENTSCOMPRISING AT LEAST ONE CREASING STRUCTURE HAVING AN ELONGATED SUPPORTMEMBER, A PAIR OF OPPOSITELY POSITIONED OPPOSED CREASING ARMS CARRIED BYSAID SUPPORT MEMBER, A FIST PIVOT PLATE FIXED TO ONE EXTREMITY OF SAIDSUPPORT MEMBER, TWO SPREADER BARS EACH HAVING ONE END PIVOTALLYCONNECTED TO SAID FIRST PIVOT PLATE AND HAVING THEIR OPPOSITE OUTER ENDSEACH PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO ONE OF SAID CREASING ARMS, A SECOND PIVOTPLATE SLIDABLY POSITIONED ON SAID SUPPORT MEMBER, A PAIR OF LINKS EACHHAVING ONE END PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAID SECOND PIVOT PLATE AND HAVINGTHEIR OPPOSITE ENDS EACH PIVOTALLY ATTACHED TO ABOUT THE MID-POINT OFSAID SPREADER BARS, TENSIONED SPRING MEANS ARRANGED BETWEEN ANDCONNECTED WITH SAID FIRST AND SECOND PIVOT PLATES SUCH THAT SAID SPRINGMEANS TENDS TO PULL SAID FIRST AND SECOND PIVOT PLATES TOGETHER WHEREBYSAID SPREADER BARS ARE FORCED LATERALLY OUTWARD AND LOCKING MEANS FORSECURING SAID CREASING ARMS IN A CONTRACTED POSITION.